In an attempt to capture the experiences and record learning that has taken
place in Gulur Hobli of Bagepalli taluk, where ADATS’ involvement using the
Coolie Sangha Model of development is now nearly three and a half years old,
we bring forth this Special Report.

This Report is being presented in four Sections. In Section 1 we have tried
to make a statement on the political economy of Gulur Hobli based on the
Coolies’ own perception of societal reality. Sections 2 and 3 go on to report
on the two projects which we have implemented in the Hobli. The standards
which we have set for ourselves when making this appraisal are far more severe
than the critical objectivity of any outsider can ever be, because of the
vantage position that we have enjoyed as insiders, factually and intuitively
aware of each and every shortcoming in both, our efforts as well as Coolie
responses. Section 4 starts with a discussion on decentralisation, autonomy
and pluralism and spells out some of the priority areas that we will
concentrate on in the next three year Coolie Sangha Formalisation phase of our
involvement in the Hobli.